Seniors Ashley Poole and Kevin Pynes were selected as Outstanding Woman and Man of the class of 2026.
What made you decide to attend Hillsdale?
Poole: I have two sets of cousins who went here, so I knew the community would be good, that the classes would be challenging, and that I would get a lot out of it. I came from a large public high school in Houston of 3,000 students. I was looking for academic rigor, but also rigorous friendship — getting to grow as a friend and a leader, while growing in humble service.
Pynes: I had four siblings who came to Hillsdale, and I really admired the college when I was little. I have wanted to attend since I was 8 years old. By my senior year of high school, however, I wasn’t so keen on college anymore; I almost didn’t apply. My parents talked me into applying, but even then, when I was accepted, I was planning on going to either the University of Notre Dame or the University of Nebraska. At the last minute, I had a really important conversation with someone who was really close to me. They just convinced me that the reasons I wasn’t going to Hillsdale were pretty bad. But God, in his providence, led me here.
College President Larry Arnn suggests that all people should spend their life closely studying three books and one person. What three books would you choose and who would that person be?
Poole: “On Duties” by Cicero, “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky, and finally, Frederick Douglass’ memoir. Frederick Douglass would also be the person. He teaches us a lot about our founding: its shortcomings, its glories, the things we should love about it, and the things we should critique and wrestle with. I appreciate his model of advocacy: forgiveness and commitment to joining together in human brotherhood despite racial or religious differences.
Pynes: “Brothers Karamazov” by Dostoevsky because it has some of the most strikingly beautiful passages in any work of literature. Secondly, “King Lear” — it’s Shakespeare’s best play, and he is the best writer in our language. Finally, maybe some work by Chaucer. As far as the person, it’d have to be Michael Chekhov. Nephew of Anton Chekhov, he was in the second generation of acting teachers ever, and he ended up developing a moral and systematic way of acting. It’s more artistic, and more beautiful. Additionally, he’s just a fascinating person in general. Chekhov ran from communism, so he was Russian, and he taught a lot of American actors. He has had quite the influence, since his method is what people know in American theater.
Who did you hope to become when you were a freshman and how has that changed?
Poole: I was very ambitious — I still am, but in a different way. During freshman year, I looked at all the things Hillsdale had to offer, and envisioned how they served me and my goals. I was challenged by my freshman and sophomore years through peer-to-peer mentorship. A lot of my friends pushed me by asking: what are you placing your identity in? What does it mean to get a good grade? What does it mean to do well on a mock trial team? Why are you doing what you’re doing? Who are you accomplishing it for? By participating in activities like Chi Omega, my local church, and WHIP, I saw a lot of selfless leaders, which changed my vision of leadership. I stopped saying yes to things I thought law schools would like, and started doing what I actually loved and fulfilled me, but also served those around me.
Pynes: When I regretfully arrived on campus, I was expecting to really hate it here, thinking that I’d suffer through this school, get my basic classes done, and then transfer elsewhere. But within a week, I grew to really love this place. I was in Simpson, and I landed with a really good group of friends right away. In some ways, it has been as I expected. In other ways, it’s been very different. I was going to major in physics, but I ended up majoring in English and minoring in German.
What was your reaction being named Outstanding Senior Woman or Man?
Poole: I was very surprised and quite shocked. What was really special is that three of the people that were nominated alongside me are among my best friends. I wasn’t feeling entitled to the position, and all of them are such wonderful people and have grown me in so many different ways. I was really surprised, excited, and honored. I ran back into the President’s Office and gave my friend a hug.
Pynes: I was overcome. I literally almost fell over and had to grip the wall so as to catch myself. I was really honored, and it was very surreal. I felt like I was in a dream.
What’re your plans for next year?
Poole: I will be a research associate at Consovoy McCarthy, a D.C. law firm. I’m really excited to learn from attorneys for two years and to invest in their mission. They’re doing work on some anti-exploitation cases, and my vision has always been defending victims of human trafficking.
Pynes: I’m applying to many regional theater companies. For example, Phoenix Theater Company, Sight and Sound, and Thumbcoast. My backup is to go work at a bakery back home while I apply.
What sort of legacy would you like to leave at Hillsdale?
Poole: As a freshman, I was really focused on titles — being a Truman Scholar or Outstanding Senior Woman, and being associated with different titles was what I strove for. Now, I think it’d be disappointing if people looked at me and only saw a title. Because, they don’t see all the hard choices, and mistakes that I have made: being a bad friend, and poor health decisions in the pursuit of a grade, an interview, or a victory in a Mock Trial tournament. I hope that people realize there is a cost we need to take into account when we’re trying to discern what to do. I also hope that people see I have a love for studying what it means to be a Hillsdale student in terms of our commitment to equality.
Pynes: I hope I have encouraged others to start intentionally investing in the people that are investing in you. You don’t want to take for granted the amazing friendships that college is putting in your way. It’s never going to be an easier time to make friends with intelligent, like-minded people your own age, with similar interests, who are forced to spend time in this tiny commune in rural Michigan. This is your time to lean into that. The people are far more important than any of your classes. Furthermore, I hope that campus continues to see improvements in authentic Christianity. I’d hope we stop tolerating jokes that are casually racist, misogynist, sexist, or anti-Semitic. We’re supposed to have a meek and humble disposition in our words, just as Christ himself did. Even in the intellectual conversations that occur on campus, I hope we approach them more from a place of love, and not so much pride.
